Corner tie



Jan. 27, 1970 A. J. HARBERT 3,491,981

CORNER TIE Filed April 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ARNEY J.HARBERT ydia k Jan. 27, 1970 A. J. HARBERT CORNER TIE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 5, 1967 INVENTOR ARNEY J. HARBERT ATTORNEY United StatesPatent U.S. Cl. 249-219 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The cornertie of the present disclosure is used in joining and clamping togetherthe free ends of a pair of walers in perpendicular relation to oneanother at the corner of a rectangular mold or form. The tie consists ofan open frame which can be slipped over the free ends of the walers and,when a wedge is driven through a wedge-receiving opening along one sideof the frame it will drive one waler inwardly against the end of theother and further cause the opposite end of the frame to press inwardlyagainst the other waler and in a direction such that the effect will beto urge both walers inwardly at right angles to one another against thesides of the form while main taining close-fitting engagement betweenthe ends of the walers.

This invention generally relates to clamping devices by which members ofa mold or form can be releasably but rigidly held together under apredetermined pressure and in desired angular relationship; and moreparticularly relates to novel and improved forms of corner ties beingespecially adapted for use in joining abutting ends of a pair of walersat each corner of a form, such as for example, a form of the typeutilized in the construction of concrete columns, pillasters and thelike.

As a rule, prior art clamping devices, so-called corner ties, havesuffered from a number of disadvantages and drawbacks. In most cases,the corner ties must be positively connected or fastened to one or bothwalers and donot in fact exert proper directional forces inwardlyagainst both walers and against the form or, very often the corner tierequires specially designed walers as well as specia means forinterconnecting the walers and corner ties, and in general the cornerties presently in use cannot be rapidly assembled and fastened in place,as a result of which installation and removal of the form can be verytedious and time-consuming.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the aboveand other disadvantages and drawbacks in the prior art by providing fornovel and improved means by which members of a form or mold can bereleasably but rigidly held together under a predetermined pressure andin desired angular relation to one another.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for novel andimproved forms of corner ties which can be quickly and convenientlyinstalled in clamping relation to the abutting ends of a pair of walersat each corner of a form without necessity of utilizing speciallydesigned walers or fastening elements and yet in practice will firmlyand positively hold the walers and forms in position while the concreteis being poured and allowed to harden and set.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a noveland improved corner tie which is compact and simplified in constructionrequiring a minimum number of parts, is economical and facilitates quickand convenient assembly into positive locking engagement with the freeends of a pair of walers, and is further rugged and durable in use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide noveland improved forms of corner ties which are conformable for use withdifferent sizes and types of 3,491,981 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 walers aswell as with single or double walers, the corner ties being of unitaryconstruction and being reusable without losing their effectiveness andaccuracy in aligning and clamping the walers together.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more readily appreciated and understood from thefollowing detailed description of preferred and alternate forms ofcorner ties when taken together with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a pairof corner ties in assembled relation at the corner of a concrete form,in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view, partially in section of the preferredform of corner tie shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of corner tie.

FIGURE 4 is a view of one end of the preferred form of corner tie.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modified form of corner tie in assembledrelation to the free ends of a pair of walers.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the modified form of corner tie shown inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view of the opposite end of the corner tie shown in FIGURE5.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the form of corner tie shown inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an alternate form of corner tie in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the alternate form of inventionshown in FIGURE 9.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the adaptation and use of thepresent invention is best typified by the assembly and installation ofone or more corner ties 10 on a form F used in forming of concretestructures, one corner of the form being illustrated in FIGURE 1.Generally the form may be composed of any suitable material such asmetal, wood and the like which, when filled with concrete or likematerial, must be capable of resisting extreme pressures and maintainthe desired configuration and shape until the material has hardened andset. In particular the side panels should be disposed in exact desiredalignment and maintain this alignment until the material has hardenedand set, especially at the corners or juncture of the form panelmembers. One corner of a form is shown in FIGURE 1 Where the form is comprised of panels P disposed in perpendicular edge-to-edge relation toone another. In order to support and to reinforce the form panels P,walers W and W are disposed for horizontal extension at verticallyspaced intervals along the external surfaces of the panels. Here thewalers may be comprised of elongated wooden planks, boards, or elongatedmetal bars, and the walers are disposed along the form panels with theirside edges in contacting relation to the external surfaces of thepanels. In FIGURE 1 two rows of walers are illustrated and each rowincludes a waler W having a free end 12 disposed in abutting relation tothe inside edge 14 of the perpendicular waler W, and the end 16 of thewaler W extends slightly beyond the end 12 of the first waler tofacilitate installation of the corner tie in a manner to be described.

In accordance with the present invention, the corner ties 10 are in theform of open frames designed to rigidly but releasably secure and holdthe walers together at the corners of the form in predetermined angularrelation to one another and to maintain this relation until the materialhas set. Further, the preferred form of corner tie is so constructed andarranged as to facilitate rapid assembly and installation of the formwithout necessitating positive connection either to the walers or to theform panels. To this end, the preferred form of corner tie is defined bytop and bottom cover plates 20 and 21, each being five-sided andcorresponding in configuration. The outer peripheral edges of each ofthe cover plates include perpendicular edges defining one side 24 and anend 25, respectively, with an opposite side 26 converging towards theend 25. A generally V-shaped end portion is defined by side edges 27 and28 converging toward one another from opposite sides 24 and 26 andterminating in a pointed extremity 30. The cover plates are joinedtogether in spaced parallel relation by a downwardly and inwardlysloping end wall 32 between the end edges 25, a vertical side wall 34between convergent side edges 27 and another vertical side wall 35extending forwardly for a limited distance from the pointed extremity30- between the edges 28. Most desirably the cover plates, sides and endwall portions as described are composed of thinwalled high strengthmetal sections with adjoining edges being welded together into a unitaryopen frame. In assembled relation it will be noted that the slot oropening formed between the cover plates 20 and 21, the end wall 32 andside wall 34 is sufficiently large to permit endwise insertion of theprojecting end 16 of the waler W therethrough. In addition, one end ofthe side wall 34 opposite the pointed extremity 30 is provided with atapered or knife-edge portion 38; similarly, the free end of the sidewall 35 is provided with a tapered or pointed edge portion 40. Thus whenthe corner tie is passed over the end 16 the tapered edge 38 iscontiguous to and in facing relation to the inside edge of the waler W,and the pointed edge 40 is contiguous and in facing relation to theoutside edge of the waler 14.

In use, the desired clamping action is effected by driving a wedge 42vertically through aligned upper and lower wedge-receiving slots oropenings 44 and 45 extending inwardly from and normal to the end wall 32in the top and bottom cover plates, respectively. The outer end wall 32is sloped downwardly and inwardly between the cover plates, and in turnthe lower wedge-receiving slot 45 extends inwardly for a greaterdistance than the upper wedge-receiving slot. Further, each of the slotsis of sufficient length to traverse the outside edge portion of thewaler so as to permit direct wedging engagement between the wedge andouter edge of the waler when the wedge is driven through the slots. Inthis relation, the wedge 42 is relatively thin and has an inner,relatively sharp tapered edge 48 and an outer, downwardly sloping edge49 inclining at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the endwall 32. In this way, when the wedge is driven downwardly through thewedge-receiving slots the outer inclined edge 49 will be guided alongthe inner surface of the end wall 32 thereby to maintain the innercontact edge 48 in vertical relation and establish uniform engagementand pressure against the outer edge of the waler. The wedge may also besuitably provided with an aperture 50 located between the top and bottomcover plates to receive a locking pin or nail, not shown, for thepurpose of nailing or fastening the wedge to the side of the waler W. Inaddition the wedge may be held loosely in assembled relation to theframe by bending or crimping the lower extremity 52 after the wedge hasbeen inserted through the slots.

In practice, the corner tie is passed over the end 16 of the waler W andis advanced into position with the pronged edge 38 engaging the insideof the waler W and the pronged edge 40 engaging the outside of the walerW, as best seen from FIGURE 2, and the inner edges of the top and bottomcover plate partially overlapping the waler W. When the wedge is drivendownwardly through the slots 44 and 45 it will urge the pronged edge 38more firmly against the inside of the waler W whereupon the pronged edge40 is caused to undergo rotation or pivoting about the knife edge 38 andto be driven inwardly against the outside of the waler W and in adirection forcing the waler W inwardly against the form panel andsomewhat forwardly so that its abutting end will be tightened againstthe inside of the waler W. Thus while the wedge 42 forces the waler Winwardly against the abutting end of the waler W and against the formpanel, the pointed edge at the opposite end of the frame will force thewaler W in an opposite direction opposing the force of the wedge wherebyto rigidly clamp the walers together and cause the walers to becompressed inwardly against the form panels. Here it has been found thatthe most effective clamping action can be obtained where the inwardforce of the pointed edge 40 is directed along the line A of theconvergent side 28, or substantially at degrees to the side of the walerW and such that the line of force will fall within the midsection of theabutting end of the waler and in this way avoid any tendency of thewalers to rotate or shift with respect to one another. Generally it hasbeen determined that shifting or rotation can be effectively avoided ifthe line of application of force falls within the middle one-third ofthe distance from the inner surface of the form panel P and the outersurface of the waler W and will be operative to clamp the walerstogether while holding them fiat and stable against each other.

It will be evident from the foregoing that each corner tie can berapidly fixed in position by sliping it into place followed by drivingthe wedge downwardly for a distance necessary to secure rigid connectionat each corner of the form. If desired, a nail may be driven through theopening 34' and into the waler W which together with the nail driventhrough the opening will maintain a rigid connection and preventaccidental shifting or loosening of the corner tie. Of course the walerswill be positioned and vertically spaced at intervals to reinforce theform throughout its length.

When the concrete or cementitious material is poured into the form thepressure exerted outwardly by the material both by virtue of its weightand as a result of any expansion will be effectively resisted by theclamping action of the corner tie. Of course different types and sizesof walers are available for different applications and the length andwidth of the frame as well as the opening size of the slot through theframe may be correspondingly varied according to the size of the walers.Moreover the depth of the frame may be increased to accommodate doublewalers; and the thickness, shape and width of the wedge, along with thesize of the wedge-receiving slots may be suitably varied or modified asdesired. Further the corner tie may be installed in inverted relationand of course would require that the wedge be driven upwardly throughthe wedge-receiving slots to clamp the corner tie in place.

In the modified form of invention shown in FIGURES 5 to 8 the framemember is of generally rectangular configuration having top and bottomcover plates 61 and 62 being joined together by end walls 63 and 64 anda side wall portion 65 extending along the outside of the frame. Thusthe end wall 64 and side wall 65 are disposed in perpendicular relationto one another, and the end wall 64 extends for the greater length ofthe end of the frame but terminates in spaced relation from the insidecorner and has an inner terminal edge formed with tapered prongs 66. Ina similar manner the side wall 65 extends for a limited distance alongthe outside of the frame with a terminal edge provided with taperedprongs 67 along one side of a clearance space or opening generallyindicated at 68, the latter being of sufiicient width to permit endwiseinsertion of a waler W and leave an additional clearance space 69outside of the waler W for lateral insertion of a wedge element 70. Inthe modified form, the wedge member 70 is of increased width and maysuitably be of a generally U-shaped construction with inclined sides 71,a closed end portion 72 between the sides, and a striking end portion73.

In use, when the wedge 70 is driven through the clearance space 69 alongthe outside of the waler W the waler W is forced inwardly to be firmlygripped and engaged by the prongs 67; and in applying the force of thewedge at the inside corner of the frame will have a tendency once againto pivot or rotate the prongs 66 inwardly about the prongs 67 and in adirection forcing the waler W inwardly against the form panel andforwardly against the inside of the waler W,

In the alternate form of invention shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the cornertie 75 comprises an open, grid-like frame composed of heavy gauge wirewith top and bottom triangular frame portions 76and 77 joined togetherat their vertices by vertical rods 78, 79 and 80. The rod portion 78 hasa tapered lateral edge 81 and the rod 79 is similarly provided with atapered lateral edge 82. In turn the rod 80 is inclined downwardly aiidinwardly at an angle conforming to the angle of inclination of theinclined side 49' of the wedge member 42' where the wedge member 42'substantially corresponds to the wedge 42 shown in the preferred form ofinvention, and accordingly like parts are enumerated correspondinglywith prime numerals. In order to limit downward movement of the wedge,transverse stops 84 and85 are disposed across the upper and lowertriangular frame portions 76 and 77 in spaced but adjacent relation tothe rod 80. Further to guide the wedge and force it to ride against therod 80, wire elements 86 and 87 of limited length extend between each ofthe respective stop members 84 and 85 and the upper and lower frameportions 76 and 77 alongside opposite ends of the rod 80 and in spacedparallel relation to the longer side of the triangular frame portionsthereby forming a limited clearance space for passage of the wedge.

Again, the opening formed between the upper and lower frame portions 76and 77, the rod 80 and the edge 82 is of sufficient depth and width topermit endwise insertion of the overhanging end of the waler. In drivingthe wedge 42 downwardly against the outside of the waler W' the lateraledge '82 is aligned at an angle such that it will be forced into theside of the waler at a slight angle away from normal and inwardlytowards the wedge member. Moreover the knife edge 81 is once againdirected inwardly at an angle such that its application of force will bein a line passing through the midsection of the end of the other waleras described with reference to the preferred form shown in FIGURES l to4. Thus the installation and clamping of the corner tie 75 is intendedto accomplish the same desired result of compressing the walers togetherwhile simultaneously forcing the walers inwardly against theirrespective form panels. It will be evident however that the triangularframe structure shown in FIGURES 9 and does not have the rigidity andstrength of forms of invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 6.

In the preferred and modified forms of corner ties herein illustratedand described, each can be positively and rigidly secured in placeWithout special connecting elements or positive connection to the walersor form panels by the simple expedient of wedging one end of the framealong the outer edge surface of one of the walers. The effect of thiswill be to urge the opposite end of the frame inwardly against theoutside of the other waler, as a result of which the walers are heldrigid and in a common plane against one another. and against therespective form panels so as to maintain the desired angularrelationship at the corners 'of the form notwithstanding application ofextremely high pressures. Preferably the force applied by the inner endof the frame is in the direction described with reference to thepreferred form of invention of FIGURES 1 to 4 or the alternate forms ofFIGURES 9 and 10 with the inner edge of the frame being adapted torotate about the terminal edge of the frame bearing against the insideof the first waler. In this relation, it is not essential that the walercontacting edges be pron-ged or tapered but may be of any equivalentform which is capable of penetrating or firmly gripping the side of thewaler so as not to slide or shift when a wedging force is applied. Thesame is true of the inner edge of the frame, namely, that it effectgripping engagement with the outside of the other waler when wedgingforce is applied at the opposite end of the frame.

The preferred and alternate forms of the present invention are readilyconformable for use in numerous applications where a corner clamp isrequired to rigidly secure the ends of a pair of members at somespecified angle, and of course the clamp may either be removable or maybe permanently installed. For instance, in other applications it is notessential that the clamping forces applied through opposite ends of theframe be resisted by the form panels or the like since the applicationof force is in opposite directions and in a common plane.

Accordingly it is to be understood that various other modifications andchanges may be resorted to in the preferred and alternate formsdescribed and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corner tie for joining perpendicular ends of a pair of walers atthe corner of a form wherein the end of one waler extends beyond theother waler and the end of the other waler is disposed in abuttingrelation to the inside of the one waler, said corner tie comprising anopen, generally box-shaped frame having spaced parallel frame portions,end and side portions rigidly interconnecting said frame portions with awaler-receiving opening between said frame portions being adapted forendwise insertion of the end of the one waler therethrough, awedgereceiving space at one end of said frame outwardly of thewaler-receiving opening and in communication therewith, and end portionsat the opposite end of said frame, each portion terminating in a taperededge being disposed in facing relation to the inside of the one walerand the outside of the other waler, respectively, and a wedge movavlethrough the wedge-receiving space to cause inward forcing of the onewaler against the end of the other waler while forcing each of thetapered edges of the divergent end wall portions in an oppositedirection against the inside of the one waler and the outside of theother waler.

2. A corner tie according to claim 1, one of the tapered edges engagingthe outside of the other waler in a plane passing through the midsectionof the end of the other waler abutting the inside of the one waler.

3. A corner tie according to claim 1, the Wedge-receiving spaceincluding aligned slots in the spaced parallel frame portions adjacentto the one end of said frame.

4. A corner tie according to claim 3, the end portions at the oppositeend of the frame being defined by generally V-shaped, divergent wallportions.

5. A corner tie according to claim 1, said frame portions being in theform of relatively flat, planar wall portions and the side and endportions being in the form of wall portions rigidly interconnecting saidplanar wall portions in spaced parallel relation.

6. A corner tie for clamping together adjoining ends of a pair of boardsand the like at substantially right angles to one another withoutpositive connection thereto, said corner tie being comprised of a rigidframe provided with an opening therein for endwise insertion of one ofthe boards, wedging means movable through a wedge-receiving space insaid frame into engagement with the outside of the one board to causeinward forcing of the one board against the end of the other board, andreleasable gripping means at the opposite end of said frame includingfirst releasable gripping means releasably engageable with the inside ofthe one board, second gripping means pivotal about said first grippingmeans into gripping engagement with the other board upon inward forcingof the one board by said wedging means against the end of the otherboard.

7. A corner tie for clamping together adjoining ends of a pair of boardsand the like at substantially right angles to one another, said cornertie comprising a frame having spaced parallel wall portions, end andside wall portions rigidly interconnecting said spaced parallel wallportions with an aligned opening through opposite sides of said framebetween said end and side wall portions to provide for endwise insertionof the one board through the space between said spaced parallel Wallportions, wedging means movable through a wedge-receiving space in saidframe into engagement With the outside of the oneboard to cause inwardforcing of the one board against the end of the other board, and saidside wall portion being releasably engageable with the inside of the oneboard and responsive to inward forcing of the One board by said wedgingmeans against the end of the other board to advance in a directionurging the end of the other board against and normal to the inside ofthe one board.

8. A clamping device according to claim 7, the leading edges of saidspaced parallel wall portions overlapping the outer edge of the otherboard, and further including gripping means being defined by a grippingedge at the terminal end of a side wall in spaced relation to the otherboard.

9. A clamping device according to claim 6, said frame being defined byspaced parallel wall portions, end and side wall portions rigidlyinterconnecting said spaced parallel wall portions, the first grippingmeans being defined by a tapered edge at the terminal end of one of theside wall portions in facing relation to the one board and said secondgripping means being defined by a tapered edge at the terminal end of anouter side wall portion in facing relation to the other board.

10. A clamping device according to claim 6, said wedge being movable ina vertical direction through a wedge-receiving slot at one end of theframe and said wedge having an outer, downwardly and inwardly slopingside and an inner vertical tapered side edge engageable with the outsideof the one board, and the one end of said frame being inclineddownwardly and inwardly at a complementary angle to that of thedownwardly sloping side whereby to guide said inner vertical taperededge into uniform engagement with the outside of the one board.

11. A clamping device according to claim 6, the wedgereceiving openingbeing defined by a clearance space between the outside of the one boardand the one end of said frame and said wedge being movable through thespace in a direction parallel to the one board.

12. A clamping device according to claim 6, said frame being defined byheavy-gauge wire frame portions being rigidly interconnected in spacedparallel relation to define the opening for endwise insertion of the oneboard and the wedge-receiving space outwardly of and in communicationwith the opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, PrimaryExaminer DE WALDEN wjJoNEs, Assistant Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 24--263;24948; 269-122

